Bhim Army Chief of General Staff Chandrashekhar Azad said on Saturday that his political group – the Azad Samaj Party – would not ally with the Samajwadi Party in next month’s Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
Mr Azad told reporters that Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav “does not want Dalit support”.
“Akhileshji humiliated us yesterday… Akhileshji humiliated bahujan samaj yesterday,” Chandrashekhar Azad said a day after a meeting with Samajwadi party chiefs to discuss seat sharing.
“In the end, I feel that Akhileshji doesn’t want a Dalit leader in this coalition…he just wants Dalit votes. I’m worried that if Dalits vote for him and he forms a government, We won’t be able to talk to him about our problems…if we are beaten, if our land is stolen, our women are raped, just like Hasras.”
Akhilesh Yadav offered three seats for the Azad Samaj party, but Chandrashekhar Azad demanded 10, so a middle ground could not be established.
It is understood that Mr Azad and Mr Yadav had reached a broad agreement to participate in these polls together, and the Bhim army chief could come out of his stronghold in Saharapur.
“Akhileshji told us a month ago that we would run for elections together. I was here for two days discussing our joint struggle. I wanted to stop the BJP with Akhileshji, but he didn’t want to represent Dalits.
Complete News Source : NDTV
